Master User Acceptance Testing: A Project Manager's Guide

Projects are a lot of work, and ensuring they successfully deploy can be challenging. It can be tempting to let the development team do some testing and then launch… but this can be a very risky gamble as critical test scenarios may be missed, the business may not be bought in and bugs may escape. At one extreme this can result in project failure.

This is where a User Acceptance Test, or UAT,comes in. Running a UAT will help ensure a successful deployment by throughly testing your product before it launches. This testing includes involvement by the teams who will use the new tool (the business), a robust examination of which scenarios need to be tested, and extensive testing to ensure the system meets their needs.

UAT’s give the project team a chance to correct any issues, and also exposes the customer or business team to how the project works, increasing engagement and buy-in.

Why do UATs matter?

UAT’s are a critical phase in every project’s lifecycle, but they can be challenging to organize and run. This course covers every aspect of running a successful UAT, including:

1. Strategic Planning: Generating buy-in and excitement for a UAT is critical to it’s success, as is putting together a solid team to help run it.

2. Flawless Execution: UATs go beyond running tests. They also include effective communication, identifying champions, and tracking critical metrics and issues.

3. Seamless Closure: Completing a UAT isn’t just about finishing test scripts. Discover how to address every issue, obtain team consensus, and achieve the official sign-off for testing completion.

UAT’s are more than test scripts!They’re about people. This course also covers the human element of UAT’s, including:

• Securing Stakeholder Buy-In: Master the art of convincing stakeholders about the value of UAT and how to effectively communicate its importance.

• Managing Diverse Perspectives: Explore strategies for handling the diverse group of individuals involved in UAT. Learn to navigate varying opinions, availability challenges, and foster collaboration for the betterment of your project.

• Empowering Your UAT Team: Discover how to provide the essential support your UAT team needs for success. From documentation to addressing challenges, you’ll become the catalyst for a high-performing UAT team.

• Building Effective Working Relationships: UAT is about teamwork and collaboration. Learn how to cultivate strong working relationships with your team members, testers, and stakeholders for smoother UAT processes.

• Cultivating Champions:UATs help identify system champions – users who will be your system’s cheer leaders and help others learn about, and buy into, the new system.

Why should you take this course?

1. Reduce the risk of a deployment failing – Failed deployments are incredibly costly, both in terms of dollars, but also in terms of tarnished reputation.  Running a UAT helps reduce this risk by having the business thoroughly test the system, and sign off on that testing, before deployment.

2. Build stronger teams – A UAT is comprised of the project team (developers, analysts, etc) and the business team (individuals from the unit accepting the system). Bringing them together helps improve everyone’s skills and helps uncover new test scenarios and features that could be missed.

3. Improve your skills – Understanding how to run a UAT will improve your skillset, making you a more valuable member of your organization, and will improve your confidence when deploying systems.

Who Should Enroll:

• Project Managers: Boost your project management skills, and project success, by learning how to plan, run and close successful UATs.

• Project Team Members: Understand the importance of UATs and how you fit into this critical part of a project.

• Testers: Maximize your testing impact by gaining a clear understanding of UAT expectations and responsibilities.

• Managers of UAT Participants: Enhance your support by comprehending your team’s UAT roles and challenges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course materials?

You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.

Can I take my courses with me wherever I go?

Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don’t have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That’s up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!